When Instagram announced its new algorithm that would prioritise popular content in feeds, over 340,000 people signed a petition against it. Now, influencers are forming private ‘pods’ to support each other’s posts in defence against the change. But why is there such concern over online snaps?

For generations, people have sought to improve themselves by seeking guidance from friends, family, support groups, and books. But in the digital era, many teenagers are turning to Instagram for self-help advice. How are they harnessing this platform to find solutions for everyday problems?

Twitter is adopting a tougher stance towards posts deemed to be encouraging self-harm. The change comes as people begin to demand more protection in their digital lives, calling on social media giants to prove more accountable in acting against issues of online abuse.

According to two of Instagram’s employees, users of the image-based social network are tiring of picture-perfect posts. Instead of the highly curated feeds that have become the norm, people are increasingly drawn to imperfection – which is one of the drivers behind the success of Instagram Stories.